Evaluation of Process Capability in Utilizing the Hardenability Quality of Materials in Cylindrical Grinding

The invention of high strength and high temperature alloys for usage in advanced applications like space vehicles, automobiles and many other fields which involve very high temperatures and loads necessitate the need for higher dimensional and geometric accuracy. Such high performance materials are inherently "More difficult to machine" and grinding is one of the most familiar and common abrasive machining processes used for finishing operation of such materials. This paper deals with the experimental studies, to achieve better surface finish with increased hardness at the surface by utilizing the in-process energy source developed during machining. Experimental studies have been carried out in cylindrical grinding for various steel materials by varying the number of passes, depths of cut and feed-speeds to optimize the in-process energy to achieve maximum hardness at the surface. Surface texture study has also been carried out to analyse and improve the quality of the components and the results are reported.